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Derrick is not one to take serious matters lightly. He prepares well for the contingencies that life may bring. Working in
the elite SA Police Special Task And Rescue (STAR) Group Derrick knew there were many dangers – High Risk Arrest,
Hostage/Siege situations, Counter-Terrorism and cliff/cave/mine rescues to mention a few. However, Derrick was so well
prepared for the perils that come with high-risk work that he dealt with the shooting decisively while literally laughing with
himself about ‘what the boys would say when he gets back to work’. He returned fire and found protection but with broken
bones and severed arteries he was lying bleeding to death for three hours before he could be rescued. This incident
turned into South Australia’s longest siege in history – 42 hours and 2000 rounds of ammunition exchanged between
offender and the Police.
The first Doctor to treat him initially thought he was dead. However, when Derrick took a last dying gasp of breath it
convinced the Doctor to ‘have a go’ despite very real dangers to himself. The Doctor later told Derrick he had been just
30 seconds from death. Incredibly and despite many predictions, Derrick survived and in doing so demonstrated that
individuals can defy the odds; nothing is impossible when you are well prepared, maintain confidence in your own ability
and have a Never Say Die determination to win.
Derrick has a self admitted twisted, warped and cheeky sense of humour that makes this a very funny, sometimes heart-
wrenching but always and moving story with strong, deep-seated messages. Messages of what you can achieve with a
Never Say Die attitude, when you aim for the best but are prepared for the worst and if you can laugh at yourself in the
midst of your worst nightmare. Derrick’s audiences laugh out loud while they take in messages tailored to your
conference or in-house workshop.
The real inspiration is Derrick’s attitude to living life to the full. Derrick’s first goal was simply to return to his family alive.
With that achieved he looked to the future. Many doubted he would ever walk properly let alone return to work as a
policeman. But Derrick’s Never Say Die attitude had him striving for the best possible what ever that was. 2 ½ years after
the shooting, after trial and failure and trial again, he made a triumphant return to the elite STAR Group and back to the
physically, mentally and emotionally demanding work he loved so much ... with no restrictions. He has since competed in
triathlons, skydived and taken up wakeboarding and yes, even speaks in public. Life is great again and still getting better
while he searches for new challenges.
Derrick is a highly sought-after speaker with a totally open, natural, humourous, charismatic and dynamic style of
presenting. He is sensational for opening and closing conferences, inspiring people to push themselves even further and
achieve things that others believe impossible. He has worked with some of Australia’s leading companies to deliver
inspiring keynote presentations and powerful workshops.
“Not only is Derricks presentation a strong metaphor for many facets of organisational life, it goes much deeper, evoking
strong emotions that question the meaning, value, quality and ultimately purpose of ones life.”
Helen Hartley, HR Manager, Lifeplan Funds Management.
Derrick’s is one of the few genuinely great ‘real-life stories’ available in Australia today.
Building Confidence, Courage, Capability and Resilience.
Other Keynote presentation options
Also available as Professional Development programs and Breakout sessions.
Program #1 – Get Your Head in the Game
Elite athletes around the world will tell you that success is 10% physical and 90% mental. The same principle applies to all
manner of business and personal challenges too. ‘Get Your Head in the Game’ is a Keynote and/or PD program focussed
on Derrick’s '5 Drivers for Success'. You will leave with the tools for building the confidence, courage and capacity to
identifying, trust, and use all your strengths and create success ... to win whether it’s business or personal.
Outcomes/learning’s: creating and maintaining the success mindset; developing positive attitude and ‘The Attitude
Equation’; build resilience to overcome any challenges; 6 steps to higher self-esteem; mental rehearsal/visualisation to
prepare and contingency plan; powerful identifying, setting and achieving goals.
“As a CEO I have a short attention span for programs like this but Derrick had me engrossed for 90 minutes. Very
powerful”
CEO, Q-Comp.
Program #2 – The 7 Pillars of Tactical Leadership
Special Forces selection criteria and training includes the ability to be a leader in the toughest and most demanding
circumstances in the world. They train their leaders in the 7 Pillars of Tactical Leadership. This Keynote or PD program
will show you how to use the same 7 Pillars to take control, make decisions, simplify risk assessments, form contingency
plans, give direction and deal with discipline in an effortless, positive way that will ensure you and your team are
performing at their peak in the simplest situation or under the greatest pressure.
Program #3 – That’s a Bright Idea !
Bright ideas and solutions within a matter of minutes … easily. Creativity is problem solving ... with added fun. Creative
solutions and innovations are what drive your business to new high and great successes. Derrick has a naturally flare for
creativity and having fun– coming up with both practical and bizarre but always effective solutions for an infinite amount of
problems. Learn tools to develop, encourage and reward innovation so as to increase team interest, motivation and
improve problem solving skills and success. Everyone has the skill to be creative and everyone can have fun doing it.
This Keynote or PD program develops creative confidence.
Program #4 - Unbeatable Teams
Building on The 7 Pillars of Tactical Leadership ... the same attitudes, tactics and philosophies used to create an
unbeatable winning team in the field will create an unbeatable winning team in the office too. Inspire commitment,
cooperation and peak performance that other teams will marvel at. Teach your team to leverage each other’s individual
strengths, welcome challenges, support each other through good and bad and achieve sensational results.
Clients have their say …
Derrick’s workshop at our leadership conference was amazing. From the moment he opened with his personal experience
he had us fully engaged. Not only were the sessions so empowering, he delivered the content with humour, compassion
and total respect for individuals. Feedback shows that Derrick’s motivation and self-belief is infectious and life changing.
Business Development Manager, ANZ Bank
Westfield was looking for a speaker who could demonstrate the importance of (1) operating as a professional team, (2)
planning and preparing for all eventualities, (3) setting and delivering goals. Derrick’s life experience was a natural fit and
in addition he was able to structure his speech to address our corporate objectives. The audience was inspired by his
courage, tenacity and honesty and having listened to and/or engaged over 20 motivational speakers I rate Derrick as one
of the best we have encountered.
General Manager - Security Westfield
Derrick’s situation was such that I felt many parallels could be drawn to illustrate goal setting, teamwork, perseverance
and determination, training, focus and courage. He delivered his talk in a very natural, open and insightful manner. It
had a very positive effect on my staff.
Executive General Manager, Hudson
From a 2009 AIMS Insurance Conference:
• Inspiring story of survival helped by training and being able to remain focused at all times. I can remember the siege
and the amount of publicity it generated at the time - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Riveting - He is an amazing person - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Very good lesson in how to rise above life's tests & trials - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Extremely interesting and motivational - MGA Insurance
• What an inspirational man - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Amazing to hear how powerful the mind and will to live can be - MGA Insurance
• Inspirational story and great way to finish conference off - Austbrokers
• Brilliant talk, brilliant man, brilliant idea! - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• A great story of commitment to life - CGU Insurance
• Brilliant! - Donnellys
Table seating configurations of 6,8 and 10 available. info@tacticalweekaustralia.com
the elite SA Police Special Task And Rescue (STAR) Group Derrick knew there were many dangers – High Risk Arrest,
Hostage/Siege situations, Counter-Terrorism and cliff/cave/mine rescues to mention a few. However, Derrick was so well
prepared for the perils that come with high-risk work that he dealt with the shooting decisively while literally laughing with
himself about ‘what the boys would say when he gets back to work’. He returned fire and found protection but with broken
bones and severed arteries he was lying bleeding to death for three hours before he could be rescued. This incident
turned into South Australia’s longest siege in history – 42 hours and 2000 rounds of ammunition exchanged between
offender and the Police.
The first Doctor to treat him initially thought he was dead. However, when Derrick took a last dying gasp of breath it
convinced the Doctor to ‘have a go’ despite very real dangers to himself. The Doctor later told Derrick he had been just
30 seconds from death. Incredibly and despite many predictions, Derrick survived and in doing so demonstrated that
individuals can defy the odds; nothing is impossible when you are well prepared, maintain confidence in your own ability
and have a Never Say Die determination to win.
Derrick has a self admitted twisted, warped and cheeky sense of humour that makes this a very funny, sometimes heart-
wrenching but always and moving story with strong, deep-seated messages. Messages of what you can achieve with a
Never Say Die attitude, when you aim for the best but are prepared for the worst and if you can laugh at yourself in the
midst of your worst nightmare. Derrick’s audiences laugh out loud while they take in messages tailored to your
conference or in-house workshop.
The real inspiration is Derrick’s attitude to living life to the full. Derrick’s first goal was simply to return to his family alive.
With that achieved he looked to the future. Many doubted he would ever walk properly let alone return to work as a
policeman. But Derrick’s Never Say Die attitude had him striving for the best possible what ever that was. 2 ½ years after
the shooting, after trial and failure and trial again, he made a triumphant return to the elite STAR Group and back to the
physically, mentally and emotionally demanding work he loved so much ... with no restrictions. He has since competed in
triathlons, skydived and taken up wakeboarding and yes, even speaks in public. Life is great again and still getting better
while he searches for new challenges.
Derrick is a highly sought-after speaker with a totally open, natural, humourous, charismatic and dynamic style of
presenting. He is sensational for opening and closing conferences, inspiring people to push themselves even further and
achieve things that others believe impossible. He has worked with some of Australia’s leading companies to deliver
inspiring keynote presentations and powerful workshops.
“Not only is Derricks presentation a strong metaphor for many facets of organisational life, it goes much deeper, evoking
strong emotions that question the meaning, value, quality and ultimately purpose of ones life.”
Helen Hartley, HR Manager, Lifeplan Funds Management.
Derrick’s is one of the few genuinely great ‘real-life stories’ available in Australia today.
Building Confidence, Courage, Capability and Resilience.
Other Keynote presentation options
Also available as Professional Development programs and Breakout sessions.
Program #1 – Get Your Head in the Game
Elite athletes around the world will tell you that success is 10% physical and 90% mental. The same principle applies to all
manner of business and personal challenges too. ‘Get Your Head in the Game’ is a Keynote and/or PD program focussed
on Derrick’s '5 Drivers for Success'. You will leave with the tools for building the confidence, courage and capacity to
identifying, trust, and use all your strengths and create success ... to win whether it’s business or personal.
Outcomes/learning’s: creating and maintaining the success mindset; developing positive attitude and ‘The Attitude
Equation’; build resilience to overcome any challenges; 6 steps to higher self-esteem; mental rehearsal/visualisation to
prepare and contingency plan; powerful identifying, setting and achieving goals.
“As a CEO I have a short attention span for programs like this but Derrick had me engrossed for 90 minutes. Very
powerful”
CEO, Q-Comp.
Program #2 – The 7 Pillars of Tactical Leadership
Special Forces selection criteria and training includes the ability to be a leader in the toughest and most demanding
circumstances in the world. They train their leaders in the 7 Pillars of Tactical Leadership. This Keynote or PD program
will show you how to use the same 7 Pillars to take control, make decisions, simplify risk assessments, form contingency
plans, give direction and deal with discipline in an effortless, positive way that will ensure you and your team are
performing at their peak in the simplest situation or under the greatest pressure.
Program #3 – That’s a Bright Idea !
Bright ideas and solutions within a matter of minutes … easily. Creativity is problem solving ... with added fun. Creative
solutions and innovations are what drive your business to new high and great successes. Derrick has a naturally flare for
creativity and having fun– coming up with both practical and bizarre but always effective solutions for an infinite amount of
problems. Learn tools to develop, encourage and reward innovation so as to increase team interest, motivation and
improve problem solving skills and success. Everyone has the skill to be creative and everyone can have fun doing it.
This Keynote or PD program develops creative confidence.
Program #4 - Unbeatable Teams
Building on The 7 Pillars of Tactical Leadership ... the same attitudes, tactics and philosophies used to create an
unbeatable winning team in the field will create an unbeatable winning team in the office too. Inspire commitment,
cooperation and peak performance that other teams will marvel at. Teach your team to leverage each other’s individual
strengths, welcome challenges, support each other through good and bad and achieve sensational results.
Clients have their say …
Derrick’s workshop at our leadership conference was amazing. From the moment he opened with his personal experience
he had us fully engaged. Not only were the sessions so empowering, he delivered the content with humour, compassion
and total respect for individuals. Feedback shows that Derrick’s motivation and self-belief is infectious and life changing.
Business Development Manager, ANZ Bank
Westfield was looking for a speaker who could demonstrate the importance of (1) operating as a professional team, (2)
planning and preparing for all eventualities, (3) setting and delivering goals. Derrick’s life experience was a natural fit and
in addition he was able to structure his speech to address our corporate objectives. The audience was inspired by his
courage, tenacity and honesty and having listened to and/or engaged over 20 motivational speakers I rate Derrick as one
of the best we have encountered.
General Manager - Security Westfield
Derrick’s situation was such that I felt many parallels could be drawn to illustrate goal setting, teamwork, perseverance
and determination, training, focus and courage. He delivered his talk in a very natural, open and insightful manner. It
had a very positive effect on my staff.
Executive General Manager, Hudson
From a 2009 AIMS Insurance Conference:
• Inspiring story of survival helped by training and being able to remain focused at all times. I can remember the siege
and the amount of publicity it generated at the time - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Riveting - He is an amazing person - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Very good lesson in how to rise above life's tests & trials - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Extremely interesting and motivational - MGA Insurance
• What an inspirational man - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• Amazing to hear how powerful the mind and will to live can be - MGA Insurance
• Inspirational story and great way to finish conference off - Austbrokers
• Brilliant talk, brilliant man, brilliant idea! - Webster Hyde Heath Ins Brokers
• A great story of commitment to life - CGU Insurance
• Brilliant! - Donnellys
Table seating configurations of 6,8 and 10 available. info@tacticalweekaustralia.com
